The Worldbuilder Diaries
The Worldbuilder Diaries are a series of posts I wrote discussing my process for worldbuilding in fantasy and science-fiction realms. What works for me may not work for you, but I hope others will find something of value here.
This page will be updated with links as each topic is published. I’ve had a lot of fun writing this segment of my blog, and I hope you enjoy reading it!
Click each heading to view individual topics.
Worldbuilding Basics
Maps and locations – Published 13JUN2024
Organizing ideas and concepts – Published 06JUN2024
Organization of characters – Published 25JUL2024
World-Specific Details
Creatures – Published 29AUG2024
Deities and religions – Published 19SEP2024
Fantastical locations
History and lore
Magic systems – Published 07NOV2024
Plant life and landscapes
Technology – Published 03OCT2024
Weaponry – Published 27JUN2024
The People
Communication and languages
Cultures and society
Food and drink – Published 17OCT2024
Governance and laws
Naming conventions – Published 08AUG2024
Non-human Peoples – Published 05SEP2024
Politics and factions
The Storyline
How does the main character fit into their world?
How does the world influence/motivate character choices?
Setting the stage for conflicts
Other Stuff
Adding Easter eggs!
Research tools
The Latest Posts:
- The Worldbuilder Diaries: Magic Systems
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Magic Systems If you’re expecting detailed schematics or a breakdown of minutiae for every element of a magic system in this post, I’m sorry to say you’ll be disappointed. My current magic systems aren’t that involved… For me, to delve too deeply into how magic works shifts it away from the realm… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Magic Systems - The Worldbuilder Diaries: Food and Drink
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Food and Drink As someone who enjoys cooking/baking in real life, I have added some mentions of food into my books, and they’re not always the typical variety, either. I have several species featured that don’t have the typical human-style omnivore diet, and their food preferences also come up in my stories.… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Food and Drink - The Worldbuilder Diaries: Technology
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Technology This is a post I’ve been excited to write, but also one that I wasn’t sure how to begin. So let’s start with what I mean by “technology.” The standard definitions of the word are as follows: Looking at all of the above, technology can encompass anything from a hatchet to… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Technology - The Worldbuilder Diaries: Deities and Religions
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Deities and Religions By this point in my writing life, I’ve concocted a decent array of gods and goddesses for some of my worlds, while others are conspicuously devoid of any deity at all. I have just as much fun developing worlds that have a bit of religion as I do those… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Deities and Religions - The Worldbuilder Diaries: Non-Human Peoples
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Non-Human Peoples I have a pretty descent array of non-humans featured in my books, though not nearly as many as some authors. I tend to create my non-humans (mostly) from my imagination; I rarely use the typical fantasy races like elves or dwarves (and in the instances I have, those books aren’t… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Non-Human Peoples - The Worldbuilder Diaries: Creatures
The Worldbuilder Diaries: Creatures Now that I’ve covered all of what I consider the “basic” elements of worldbuilding—the building blocks like maps, characters, and organization—I can finally move on to some of the more interesting topics. But this series had to start somewhere, right? Creatures vs. Characters First off, I’d like to discuss what I… Read more: The Worldbuilder Diaries: Creatures